Bipartisan Letter Urges Biden to Oppose Steel Tariffs
A bipartisan letter signed by 36 members of Congress has been sent to the Biden Administration, urging it to oppose proposed steel tariffs that could significantly impact consumers and manufacturers. The tariffs, put forward by Cleveland-Cliffs, a mining company based in Ohio, aim to increase the price of imported tinplate steel by up to 300%. The letter expresses concerns about the potential price increases and job losses for can manufacturers, emphasizing the unique challenges it poses to the Commerce Department and the U.S. economy.
The members of Congress argue that the alleged anti-dumping margins of 132% would dramatically raise the cost of tinplate used for canned packaging, affecting a range of products including food cans, aerosol cans, and jar lids. They point out that imposing tariffs at a time of high inflation and grocery prices would further burden domestic manufacturers and consumers. Canned food items, being a low-cost option for American families, would be particularly impacted, affecting vulnerable populations, food banks, and those reliant on government nutrition and feeding assistance programs.
Furthermore, the letter highlights the adverse effect of anti-dumping duties on domestic can manufacturing and the operations of U.S. can manufacturers, which could result in significant job losses. The members of Congress call for the protection of the U.S. steel industry and its downstream partners from unfair trade practices. They emphasize the importance of considering the availability, affordability, and accessibility of canned products for U.S. consumers, while recognizing the complexity of the tin mill steel market and the need to strengthen supply chains.
The letter emphasizes that Chinese imports account for less than 10% of imported tin mill steel, with the majority coming from allied countries including European partners. They caution that imposing the proposed duties could open U.S. markets to foreign canned goods producers, potentially harming the U.S. steel industry and domestic manufacturers.
The members of Congress urge the Commerce Department to carefully consider the quantities and types of tin mill steel produced in the United States and to conduct a thorough investigation to protect domestic manufacturers. They express confidence that the findings will reflect the importance of the U.S. market for tin mill steel products and demonstrate a commitment to strengthening supply chains and ensuring the availability of canned products for U.S. consumers.
A diverse group of Members of Congress have come together to sign a petition, displaying their collective support and commitment to a cause. The distinguished list of signatories includes Adrian Smith, Andy Harris, M.D., Aumua Amata C. Radewagcn, Austin Scott, Ben Cline, Chuck Fleischmann, Cliff Bentz, Colin Allred, Dan Newhouse, Danny K. Davis, David Rouzcr, Derrick Van Orden, Diana Harshbarger, Don Bacon, Donald Norcross, Dusty Johnson, Jahana Hayes, James A. Himes, James P. McGovern, Jim Costa, John Garamendi, Marc Malinaro, Mark Amodei, Mark DeSaulnier, Neal P. Dunn, M.D., Pat Fallon, Robert E. Latta, Steve Cohen, Susan Wild, Vern Buchanan, and William Timmons.